Can aligning means



May 23, 1939. M. QUAMMA CAN ALIGNING Isms Filed June 26, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [ZYVEZVTUK M7711! Pall! May 23, 1939. M. QUAMMA CAN ALIGNING IIEANS Filed June 26, 1937 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 PatentedfMayZS wee,

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PATENT OFFICE :GAN ALIGNING ANS v Martin Quamma, San Diego, (laiif.

Application JIM 1987, Serial N0. 1",!

This invention relates to can machinery, and particularly pertains to can aligning means.

During the procedure followed in canningvarious products, it is necessary to arrange the cans I so that they will be carried properly through a can labeling machine and also so that they may be-properly packed in cartons or boxes. Usually the cans. are in carrying baskets or containers and lie at random as fed thereinto so that in or- 10 der to place them in runways to permit them to roll and flow freely through the machine, or to pack them in containers, it is necessary to do this by hand. This requires the employment of a large amount of relatively unskilled labor which 15 pick the cans up and. arrange them properly,

either for packing or for rolling through the runways to and from various machines. It is the principal object of the present invention to provide means whereby the cans may be placed in a a machine in random arrangement and within which machine the cans will be classified and aligned so that they will all be in the same final position, in which position they may continuously travel along runways to packing, labeling, 35 in other suitable types of machine.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a hopper or a table on to which cans may be poured, said table being equipped withmeans for arranging the cans in a single layer 80 over the surface thereof and to thereafter be classified as cans standing edgewise or standing on their end. The cans then passing through aligning means within which the classified cans will be placed in one position to be thereafter a moved from the machine. e

The invention is illustrated by way in the accompanying drawings in which:

. Figure 1 is a view in end elevation showing the complete machine with which the present inso vention is concerned, and particularly indicating the discharge end of the machine. v

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation showing'the complete machine.

. Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section through the machine as seen on the line 3-4 of'FigQ2 indicating means for vibrating the table.

Fig. 4 is a view in plan showing the top of the machine and its classifying means. V

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in section and elevation showing the means for placing the cans in a single layer on the table, irrespective of their arrangement when delivered onto the table.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 5' 5 showing the manner in which the cans pass of example 'alongthetableafterhavingbeenarrangedina single layer.

Pig.7isaviewsimilartorig.6showingthe manner in which tall cans are arranged in a single layer on a table.

6 Referring more particularly to the drawings,

ll indicates a pair of front legs of a base structure. ll indicates a pair of rear legs of a base structure. The rear legs are longer than the front legs and are formed with a plurality of perforations l2 to receive a fastening bolt ll by which'the support structure of the device may be adjusted with relation to the horizontal. The front and rear legs are connected by end braces I4 and are cross-connected by braces ll. Horizontal frame members It are secured to the front and back legs and overhang the forward end of the frame structure to provide a runway support Il. Secured to the legs above the horizontal frame elements It are horizontal frame members II which carry frame channels I! providing-a mounting for a driving motor 20, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. Carried at the upper ends of the legs l0 and II is a table frame structure 2|. This includes inclined frame elements 22 pivoted upon pins 23 to the front legs i0 and fastened to the rear legs [2 by the bolts i3. Mounted upon the frame elements 22 are bearing members 24 which carry rollers 25. These rollers have a flange 28 along their lowermost sides and are rotatably supported upon trunions 21. Extending transversely of the rollers and resting upon their circumferential edges are rails 28 and 29 which are secured to the end face of a vibrating table 30. The vibrating table is designed to vibrate horizontally and laterally of the machine. End frame members 3| occur at opposite ends of the table and are supported by uprights 32. Mounted upon the frame members 3! is a fixed gate 33, which extends upwardly from the frame members and is spaced from the upper surface of the table 30 to provide a throat it through which cans must pass in a single layer as they travel from the feeding bin or hopper to the classifying structure. By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the gate 33 is disposed substantially half-way down the length of the table so that a relatively large volume of cans may be deposited on to the portion of the table above the gate.

The table is vibrated by means of the motor 20 actingythrough a reduction gear 35 which drives the shaft 36 extending horizontally and carrying acrank disc 31. 'The crank disc stands in a vertical plane and has connected to it a pitman rod it which is pivotally secured to the disc 81 by a pin a. The opposite end of the pitman rod 38 is connected by a pin 40 to shackle members 4| which are attached to the under face of the table 30 by a bracket 42 carrying a pivot pin 4!. The shackles 4| carry wings 44 which extend laterally and in spaced relation to the base-oi the bracket 42. Interposed between the wings and the bracket upon opposite sides of the pivot 43 are compression springs 45 which cushion the vibrating action of the driving mechanism.

Extending transversely of the table Ill and supported by the end frame members II is acrossrail 4|. This rail is positioned a distance above the lower edge of the table II to carry segregating bars 41. The bars 41 are more particu-. larly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings where it will be seenthat they are substantially U-shaped having a pair of spaced parallel legs 48 terminating at their upper ends in a V-shaped crotch 40. The V-shaped portions provide an entering throat 50 between the adjacent members 41 and into which throat cans Il may roll. The straight legs 48 of adjacent guide members 41 are spaced apart a distance to accommodate the thickness of a rolling can ii. The segregating bars 41 are spaced above the floor III as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings to form a throat I2, which throat isgreaterthan the height of a can when lying 1 flat and is less than the diameter of 'a can when rolling. The result will be that the bars-41 will segregate the cans which are rolled on their, circumference and the cans which are lying flat on their ends. The rolling cans will pass through the throats 50 between the segregating bars and the cans lying flat will slide along the floor I! and beneath the segregating bars 4'|.- The ends of the legs 48 of the segregating bars are curved as indicated at 53 in Fig. 2 and then extend downwardly as indicated at 54 to lie along the plane of the outer edge of a can chute II. The curved portions 53 of the legs 48 will cause the cans which are sliding along the floor III to be turned on to their edges so that they will roll alongthe chute 55. Disposed in spaced relation to the'chute II and outwardly from the end of the machine is a can chute 56. This chute has an outer vertical wall 51 and an inner wall It. An inclined floor 59 spans the space between the chute II and chute 56 and is formed with can openings I'l'. Deflector members 60 and Bi form continuations of the throat between the legs 48 of the segregating bars and are curved so that the cans; passing through these throats will be turned at right angles to their path of travel and will fall into the openings 51' and then pass into the chute 56. If desired a sliding trough 62 may be mounted within chutes 55 or 56, the troughs being connected to a lever 63 by a link 64. The lever is mounted upon a bracket 65 carried by the frame and its free end is connected by a link it with the vibrating table 30 so that a rolling motion may be'imparted to the cans to cause them to flow along the chute. 1

In operation of the present invention a quan-' tity of cans or single cans in succession may be delivered on to the portion of the floor 3. of the machine occurring above the gate I I. The cans may fall on to the machine in a stacked position as indicatedin Fig. 5, where it will be seen thatone can is stacked upon the other. .During this time the table 30 is vibrated horizontally by the driving action produced by. the motor ill, the disc 31 with its pitman rod 38, and the link mechanism n. This tends to agitate and disturb the cans in their arrangement upon the table 3| and in the particular case shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, will'cause the lowermost can to slide from beneath the uppermost can. It will be seen that the uppermost can is retarded in its movement by engaging the gate IS. The lowermost can which lies flat on the tablewill pass through the throat I4 and on down the table beneath the segregating In the example shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, the diameter of the cans is greater than their height. It will be evident that in some instances the height oi the cans will be greater than their diameters, as shown in Fig. 7. In this case a can, such as indicated at a in llig. will encounter the gate .83 and will be tilted until it falls on its side, as indicated at b in Fig. 7, after which it may slide or roll down the table 30 to the segregating bars 41. It is to be understood that while the invention here shown is illustrated as being particularly adapted to align circular cans, that it may also be used to align non-circular cans, such as square and oval cans which will slide on their sides as well as on their ends.

It will thus be seen that the apparatus here disclosed provides means whereby large quantities of cans may be rapidly fed into a machine, segregated, classiiled, and arranged in a uniformly a tned position to move from the machine to various other stations or machines.

It will further be seen that the entire operation is automatic, and that it is carried out without in any'wise injuring the cans or mutilating their labels.

While I have shown the preferredform of my invention, as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes might be made in the combination, construction, and arrangement of parts, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the'spirit of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. A can aligning device comprising a table on to which cans may be deposited in random arrangement, and over which they may travel, means for arranging the cans in a single layer upon .the table as they travel, some of said cans assuming positions standing on end and other of said cans lying on their sides, and means for separating the cans which stand on their ends from: the cans which lie on their sides, and means fordisposing all of said cans in separate rows, the cans of each row being in alignment.

2. A can aligning device comprising a table .upon which cans may be deposited in random arrangement and over the surface of which said cans may move, means for vibrating the table to cause movement of cans over the surface thereof, a gate structure through which said cans must 'pass while traveling over said table surface and by which the cans will be arranged in a single layer with'the cans of one group standing on their ends and the cans of another group lying on their sides, means for separating the cans which are moving across the table surface while I aisaos'e cans-may move, means for vibrating the table to cause movement of cans over the surface thereof, a gate structure through which said cans must pass while traveling over the table surface and by whichthecanswillbearrangedin asingle layer with some of the cans standing on their ends and others lying on their sides, means for separating the cans which stand upon their ends from the cans which rest upon their sides, and means for disposing the cans of both groups in separate rows, the cans of each row having an edgewise position of alignment.

4. A device for aligning cans in an edgewise position which comprises an inclined table at the upper end of which cans may be deposited in random arrangement and over the surface of which the cans may move to be discharged from the lower side thereof, a gate at a point in the length of the t'able'from its upper to its lower edge and by which the cans will be arranged in a single layer over the surface of the table with some of the cans standing on their ends and othersresting on their edges, means acting to vibrate the table in the plane thereof whereby to motivate the cans, means adjacent the lower edge of thetable to segregate the cans into two classes,

- the lower side thereof, a gate at a point in the the plane thereof whereby to'motivate the cans,

, means adjacent the lower end of the table to segregate the cans intotwo classes, those standing on their ends and those resting on their edges, and means for disposing the cans of each class in separate rows wherein they occupy edgewise positions.

6. A device for aligning cans in an edgewise position which comprises an inclined table at the upper end of which cans may be deposited in random arrangement and over the surface of which the .cans may move to be discharged from the lower side thereof, a gate at a point in the length of thetable from its upper to its lower edge and by which the cans will be arranged in a single layer over the surface of the table, some of said cans standing on end and others resting on their sides, means acting to vibrate the table in the'plane thereof whereby to motivate the cans, means adjacent the lower edge of the table to segregate the cans into two groups, those standing on end and those resting on their sides, said means comprising segregating bars under which one group of cans will pass and between which the other group of cans will pass, and means receiving the cans of each group and'placingtheminseparaterowathecansofeachrow beinginalignedposition.

7. A device for aligning canswhich are of greater diameter than height, which device com-.-

of cans standing on end, and means for disposing said groups of cans in separate rows so that the cans of each row will be placed in alignment.

8. A can aligning device comprising a frame, a wall on said frame upon which cans may be deposited in random arrangement, means for vibrating said wall to cause movement of cans over the surface thereof, means associated with said frame through which said cans pass while traveling over said wall surface, whereby said cans will be arranged in a single layer with the cans of one group standing on end and the cans of another group lying on their sides, means for separating the cans of the first mentioned group from the cans of the second mentioned group, and means for disposing the cans of both groups in separate rows, with the cans of each row in alignment.

9. A can aligning device comprising a supporting frame, a table on said frame upon which cans may be deposited in random arrangement, means for adjusting the inclination of said table, means for vibrating said table to cause movement of said cans over the surface thereof, means for arranging said cans in a single layer on said table with the cans of one group standing on end and the cans of another group laying on their sides, means for separating the cans of the first group from the cans of the second group, and means for disposing the cans of said groups in separate rows with the cans of each row in alignment.

10. A can aligning device comprising a supporting frame, a table mounted for reciprocation on said frame, said table being adapted to receive cans deposited in random arrangement thereon, means for reciprocating said table, means for arranging the cans in a single layer upon said table with some of said cans standing on end and other of said cans lying on their sides, means for separating the first mentioned group of cans from the last mentioned group of cans, and means for disposing the cans of said groups in separate rows with the cans of each row in alignment.

11. A can aligning device comprising a primary supporting frame, a secondary frame connected to said main frame, a table mounted for movement on said secondary frame, said table being adapted to receive cans deposited in random arrangement thereon, means for arranging the cans in a single layer on said table with some of said cans standing on end and other of said cans resting on their sides, means for adjusting said secondary frame so as to change the inclination of said table, means for vibrating said table to cause movement-of said cans over the surface thereof, means for separating the cans standing on end from the cans resting on their sides, and means for disposing the cans in separate rows with the cans of each row in alignment. 7

12. A can aligning device comprising a frame, a table mounted for reciprocation on said frame,

said table being adapted to receive cans deposited in random arrangement thereon and over which they travel, means for arranging the cans in a single layer on said table with some of said cans forming-a group resting on their sides, means for reciprocating said table so as to impart movement to said cans, means for separating the cans of one group from the cans of the other group, means for adjusting the inclination of said table, and means for disposi g the cans of said groups in separate rows with t e cans of each row in alignment. I

13. A can aligning device comprising a main frame, a secondary frame connected to said main frame, a table mounted for reciprocation on said secondary frame, said table being adapted to receive cans deposited in random arrangement thereon and over which said cans may move,

- means for reciprocating said table so as to cause movement of the cans over the surface thereof,

a gate structure associated with said table and through which said cans must pass while traveling over said surface so as to be arranged in a single layer with cans of one group standing on end and cans of another group laying on their sides, means for separating the cans of the first cans in a single layer on said table with some of said cans resting on end and the others resting on their sides, means for separating'the cans of the first mentioned group from the cans of the second mentioned group, means for disposing the cans of both groups in separate rows with the cans of each row in alignment, and means diameter than height comprising a frame structure, a table adapted for movement on said frame structure, said table having a surface on which cans may be delivered, some of said cans standing on edge and others standing on end, means for disposing the cans in a single layer upon said table surface, means for imparting movement to said table so as to cause said cans to move across said table, means for separating the cans standing on edge from the cans standing on end, and delivery means for delivering the cans in separate rows with the cans of each row in alignment.

16. A device for aligning cans comprising a frame structure, a table mounted for reciprocation on said frame structure, said table having a surface on which may be deposited cans in random arrangement, with the cans of one group standing on end and the cans of another group resting on their sides, means for arranging said cans in a single layer on said table surface, means for separating the cans of one group from the cans of the other group, means for reciprocating said table, and chute means carried by said frame and adapted to receive the cans from said separating means and deliver the same in separate rows to a point of delivery.

MARTIN QUAIVEMA. 

